DEFENCE

Defence Vetting Agency

Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Vetting Agency for the financial year 2001–02.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Vetting Agency carries out security vetting checks on people employed by the Ministry of Defence, by certain other Government Departments, and by defence contractors. Since 1997, the agency has been involved in an ambitious modernisation programme to create a responsive, efficient organisation that will exploit the capabilities of modern information technology to the benefit of its customers. This is the second year of major change for the agency. During this financial year a collocation programme, which involved the closure of its London and regional offices and the setting up of an integrated organisation in York, will be completed and a number of other initiatives to improve efficiency and responsiveness will also be progressed. It is expected that performance will be depressed while those changes take place. The chief executive has been set the following key targets:
	Quality
	Key Target 1:
	At least a 95 per cent. success rate in dealing with specially selected cases and zero serious errors.
	Timeliness
	Key Target 2
	To complete 69 per cent. of security checks within 42 days.
	Key Target 3:
	To complete 61 per cent. of counter terrorist checks within 42 days.
	Key Target 4:
	To complete 90 per cent. of developed vetting within 182 days.
	Key Target 5:
	To achieve average completion times of 33 days for security checks, 32 days for counter terrorist checks and 105 days for developed vetting.
	Efficiency
	Key Target 6:
	To maintain the unit cost of output.
	I will place copies of the corporate plan in the Library of the House.

Medical Agencies

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the quinquennial review of the medical agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I am pleased to say that the review team have completed the first phase of its studies. As indicated in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) of 15 December 2000, Official Report, column 275W, the team has covered medical arrangements for personnel in Germany and Northern Ireland; and the interrelationships between primary and secondary care as well as the functions and organisation of the Ministry of Defence's four medical agencies—the Defence Secondary Care Agency, the Defence Dental Agency, the Defence Medical Training Organisation and the Medical Supplies Agency.
	I have endorsed the broad lines of the review team's report on the first phase of its studies and have agreed a package of further work to underpin and confirm its provisional conclusions. A paper summarising the main features of the team's initial report and the phase 2 work, which will take place between now and the end of the year, is being placed in the Library of the House. As the paper indicates, this further work will result in a detailed report which will form the basis of full consultation.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Foot and Mouth

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish the Government's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's report "Tourism—the Hidden Giant—and Foot and Mouth".

Kim Howells: The Department's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's report on "Tourism—the Hidden Giant—and Foot and Mouth" has been laid before both Houses today.

National Lottery

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to publish a response to the First report from the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Session 2000–01, on the operation of the national lottery.

Richard Caborn: The Department's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's report on the operation of the national lottery has been laid before both Houses today.

Departmental Spending

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total amount of spending by her Department was in each nation and region of the UK, in the last year for which figures are available; what proportion of her Department's total spending this constitutes; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 454–56W.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Departmental Spending

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total expenditure was on (a) advertising, (b) polling, (c) focus groups, (d) design consultants, (e) caterers, (f) production of departmental publications and (g) photographs/photograhers by her Department for each year since 1995 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; what was (A) the annual percentage increase in spending on each category and (B) spending on each category as a percentage of the total departmental running costs; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: Excluding its agencies and non- departmental public bodies, the total cash expenditure on publishing, preparation and production of those official publications, which have been notified to the Department's publications unit by individual budget holders, is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Cash (£) Real (1995 prices) (£) Per cent. increase in real terms from previous year Spending as per cent. of total running costs 
		
		
			 1995–96 5,463,340 5,463,340 n/a 1.2 
			 1996–97 5,176,892 5,011,512 -8.3 1.2 
			 1997–98 4,886,238 4,596,649 -8.3 1.2 
			 1998–99 7,208,674 6,583,264 43.2 1.7 
			 1999–2000 4,552,019 4,064,303 -38.3 1.0 
			 2000–01 5,298,296 4,647,628 14.4 1.1 
		
	
	These figures exclude the costs of publications produced for internal use. Where the Department makes use of a private sector publisher, the publishing, printing and design costs are generally met by the publisher as part of its acceptance of the risks of publication.
	The Department does not routinely collect the other information requested at the required level of detail, and to provide it would entail disproportionate cost.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Vehicle Accidents

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people in the last three years for which figures are available, in (a) mid-Essex and (b) the county of Essex (i) have died and (ii) have been injured as a result of vehicle accidents.

David Jamieson: holding answer 15 October 2001
	Deaths and injuries on public roads in accidents which involved a road vehicle are shown in the table for the County of Essex and for the areas covered by the local authorities Braintree District and Chelmsford Borough.
	
		
			Braintree District & Chelmsford Borough  County of Essex  
			   Killed Injured Killed Injured 
		
		
			 1998 15 1,558 84 9,052 
			 1999 23 1,646 112 9,123 
			 2000 20 1,555 86 9,462

Planning Appeals

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  how many appeals against planning decisions made by Fareham borough council were outstanding at (a) 31 December 1998, (b) 31 December 1999, (c) 31 December 2000 and (d) 30 June 2001;
	(2)  how many appeals there were in respect of planning applications made in the area covered by Fareham borough council in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from C. J. Shepley to Mr. Mark Hoban, dated 17 October 2001
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Questions about planning appeals in the Fareham Borough Council area.
	The number of planning appeals received and in hand at the end of each year were:
	
		
			 Year Appeals received Appeals in hand at end of period 
		
		
			 1998 48 16 
			 1999 47 13 
			 2000 48 21 
		
	
	There were 16 appeals in hand at 30 June 2001.

National Homelessness Strategy

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  (a) on what date he issued the consultation documents on the national homelessness strategy and (b) on what date those organisations that he has specifically invited to comment on the consultation were first alerted to the fact that the consultation was to take place;
	(2)  if he will list the organisations that he has specifically invited to comment on the consultation document, national homelessness strategy.

Sally Keeble: My Department placed a consultation document inviting views on a national homelessness strategy on its internet site on 21 September 2001. The Department has established a Stakeholder Group to assist in the development of the national homelessness strategy. The organisations represented on the Group are as follows:
	The Association for London Government
	The British Property Federation
	The Chartered Institute of Housing
	The Council of Mortgage Lenders
	The Greater London Authority
	Havant borough council
	The Housing Corporation
	The Housing Inspectorate
	The Local Government Association
	Manchester city council
	The National Homeless Alliance
	The National Housing Federation
	Portsmouth city council
	Shelter
	The Small Landlords Association.
	Most of these organisations were invited to participate on or shortly after 12 September 2001.

New Roads and Street Works Act

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many local authorities have fined utility companies using powers under section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

Sally Keeble: 110 local authorities have now informed the Government that they are or will be making use of the powers to levy a daily charge on utilities where the latter's works overrun an agreed deadline. While we do not yet have comprehensive details as to exactly how many authorities have already imposed charges, the Department's consultants, Halcrow, will be gathering such information for the Government as part of the study they are conducting into the effect of the section 74 powers.

New Roads and Street Works Act

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the operation of the powers given through section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Halcrow have been appointed by the Government to carry out an assessment of the effect of the section 74 powers. They will be providing me with an interim report by the end of this year. A further report, covering the first 12 months of operation of the new powers will follow in spring 2002.

Road Works (Local Authority Charges)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment has been made of the experiment of allowing local authorities to charge utility companies a daily amount for digging up the road; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: On 14 August, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport launched a consultation on the details of two pilot schemes to be launched in the London borough of Camden and in Middlesbrough. As part of the pilots, the two councils will be able to levy a daily charge (or "lane rental" as it is often called) on utilities carrying out works on the highway. The pilots are expected to begin in January 2002, and we will be monitoring closely the effect they have on the disruption caused to road users by utilities' works in the two areas.

"Lane Rental" Schemes

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to pilot projects in local authorities to test the effectiveness of allowing them to levy a lane rental charge on companies undertaking street works.

Sally Keeble: My Department has recently concluded a period of consultation on draft regulations to permit pilot "lane rental" schemes in Middlesbrough and the London borough of Camden under section 74A of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. We intend laying revised regulations before the House later this autumn and envisage that the pilots will begin operation early in 2002.

Road Noise

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made on surfacing concrete roads with quieter material.

David Jamieson: Having consulted with English local highway authorities and other interested bodies, we have established criteria for prioritising the surfacing of concrete trunk roads with quieter materials. These criteria are:
	1. that wherever possible the application of quieter surfaces will fit in with normal maintenance needs;
	2. that priority will be given to those sites where treatment would benefit the greatest number of people.
	3. that the works will be carried out in such a way as to minimise disruption to general public and users of network;
	4. that priority will be given to roads, opened since June 1988, where actual noise levels have turned out to be significantly higher than predicted at the time of the Public Inquiry.
	I am pleased to be able to announce a list of schemes that satisfy the first criterion and are planned for the following three years (2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05). They are listed together with those that are planned for 2001–02.
	
		
			  Region  Project description  Length (km) Properties affected per km 
		
		
			 2001–02
			 South East A12 Hatfield Peverel 1.5 158 
			 South East M11 J6–7 NB 7 11 
			 South East M27 J2–4 9 125 
			 South East M25 J16–17 marker post 104/9 to 110/4 6.0 32 
			 South West M5 J26–27 marker post 227/2 to 229/8 2.6 5 
			 Midlands M42 J9–10 northbound carriageway 6.8 174 
			 Midlands A1 Winthorpe to North Muskham 4.1 37 
			 Midlands A1 Long Bennington Bypass 3.5 41 
			   
			 2002–03 to 2004–05
			 Midlands A1 Winthorpe—Coddington 3 93 
			 Midlands A1 Coddington—Balderton 3 37 
			 Midlands A1 Carlton—North Muskham 5.3 12 
			 Midlands A46 Widmerpool to Willoughby 4 1 
			 Midlands A46 Willoughby to Six Hills 4 0 
			 Midlands M42 J2–3 Crack and Seat contract 1 3.8 6 
			 Midlands M42 J9–10 11.5 28 
			 Midlands M69 Con 2 J21 to flexible section 10 8 
			 Northern A180 Harbrough—Stallingborough 4 11 
			 Northern A180 Great Coates—Pyewipe 3.5 15 
			 Northern M62 Gilberdyke—Newport 3.8 1 
			 Northern M180 Sandtoft J2 3.8 0 
			 Northern M180 J2—Beltoft 3.8 2 
			 South East A12 Brentwood 2 4.4 87 
			 South East A12 Witham 7 117 
			 South East M25 J26–27 Contract 2 (MP153/1–158/6) 4.4 44 
			 South East A47 East Dereham Bypass (2000–01) 3.2 205 
			 South East M20 J10–11 6.5 58 
			 South East M11 J9–8 Phase 1 7 27 
			 South East M11 J6–7 SB 7 11 
			 South East M20 J11–13 (MP 100/1–109/2) 6 156 
			 South West M5 J27 South to Willand 5 51 
			 South West M5 J26–27 NB and SB (MP 217/B-220/0) 4.4 5 
			 South West M5 J26–27 NB and SB (MP 220/0–223/6) 3.6 5 
			 South West M5 J26–27 NB and SB (MP 223/6 to 227/2) 3.6 5 
		
	
	The Highways Agency is currently identifying additional schemes that satisfy the second and third criteria and could be added to this list. The agency has also identified 17 roads with concrete surfaces that have been opened since June 1988 and has instigated a programme of noise surveys to identify those that satify the fourth criterion. These roads are:
	M18 Junctions 5–6
	M20 Junctions 9–8
	M23 Junctions 10–9 Northbound Lane 1
	A1-M1 Link
	A11 Besthorpe-Wymondham Bypass
	A13 A1306 to M25 Junction 30
	A27 Chichester-Havant
	A30 Exeter-Honiton
	A34 Peartree-Weston
	A35 Tolpuddle/Puddletown
	A50 Doveridge Bypass
	A50 Derby Southern Bypass
	A50 Foston-Hatton-Hilton Bypass
	A52 Bottesford Bypass
	A249 (M2 to Iwade)
	A417/419 Cirencester and Latton Bypass
	A483 (B5445 to Welsh Boundary).

Transport Grant (GLA)

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much transport grant he has allocated for the Greater London Authority for 2001–02.

David Jamieson: GLA transport grant is determined annually after consultation with the Mayor of London under section 101 of the GLA Act 1999. The Secretary of State has today redetermined the level of grant for 2001–02 at £714,388,000. This reflects additional monies paid to the Mayor in respect of his share of the costs relating to preparation for an east-west rail link across London, and other minor adjustments.

Railtrack

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will provide details of how his Department will provide financial assistance for Railtrack plc in administration.

Stephen Byers: Full details of the funding arrangements agreed with the administrators are in the Loan Agreement. Parliamentary approval for this new expenditure in the form of a voted loan (to be repaid when Railtrack plc moves out of administration) will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for DTLR. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £800 million will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.

Correspondence

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the letter of 9 October from Vernon Hince, Acting General Secretary of RMT, to the Chief Executive of Strategic Rail Authority and the Chief Executive's reply.

David Jamieson: The publication of this correspondence is a matter for the individuals concerned and my hon. Friend may therefore wish to contact them direct.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Sixth Form Education

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the cost of administering the sixth form reforms.

Ivan Lewis: We have not made an assessment of those costs. There will be no change to funding for local education authority administrative costs. The Department funds the Learning and Skills Council for its administrative costs. We expect the LSC to deliver its new sixth form funding responsibilities within the overall administrative budget allocated to it. There is no separate element within that overall budget identified for work on school sixth forms.

Specialist Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools bidding for specialist status under the specialist schools programme were supported by donations from the Technology Colleges Trust as part of the qualifying sponsorship criteria in the years (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01.

Stephen Timms: The Technology Colleges Trust does not itself make donations to applicant schools but raises funds from other donors. Detailed information on the sponsorship included in school applications for specialist status in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, we do have an analysis of applications for Arts, Technology and Language College status in June and October 1999 and in March 2000, which shows that 37 per cent. of applicants included sponsorship arranged through the Technology Colleges Trust.

Specialist Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the planned expansion of the specialist school programme depends on the ability of the Technology Colleges Trust to support financially schools that are unable to find some or all of the required sponsorship.

Stephen Timms: The Technology Colleges Trust seeks at national level to raise sponsorship that can be allocated to schools intending to apply for specialist schools designation. Many specialist school applications include elements of sponsorship raised in this way. This is one source of sponsorship and has been part of the initiative since it began in 1994 and we expect it to remain so. Funds raised at national level help to ensure that schools are not excluded from the programme because of particular local difficulties in raising sponsorship.

Specialist Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have failed to achieve specialist school status through their inability to raise the level of sponsorship that is required.

Stephen Timms: Our network of 685 specialist schools shows that applicant schools across the country, including those from rural and inner city areas, have raised the sponsorship required, but we are aware that some schools find this more difficult than others. It would not be practicable to make an estimate of the number of schools that have been unable to raise funds but we have taken steps to ensure all schools have a reasonable opportunity to do so. In 1999, the sponsorship requirement was halved to £50,000 and my Department grant aids the Technology Colleges and Youth Sport Trusts to provide advice to schools about raising sponsorship and raise funds themselves to support applicant schools. We will keep the sponsorship criteria under review.

Specialist Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to change the sponsorship requirement for schools wishing to join the specialist schools programme.

Stephen Timms: There are no current plans to relax or remove the sponsorship requirement except that we are considering the position in relation to very small secondary schools. We will keep the situation under review.

National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will fund places at the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth to the most academically able 5 per cent. of the school population whether or not parents can afford to pay fees.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The tender documentation for the Academy says that tenderers should
	"consider the contribution that might be made to income through fees and charges associated with its services, ensuring that these do not create a disincentive to participation on the part of those from relatively disadvantaged backgrounds". The level and use of Government funding will be agreed when we have identified the winning tender.

Local Education Authorities

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what resources she plans to provide to local education authorities, with particular reference to Worcestershire, prior to the introduction of a new system for setting standard spending assessments for education for the financial year 2002–03; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: In 2002–03 the overall increase in Education Standard Spending will be over £1.3 billion or 5.7 per cent.; direct grants to schools will increase by 2.75 per cent.; and Standards Fund grant will increase by £85.6 million. We are currently working up proposals for a reformed system of school and LEA funding for introduction in 2003–04.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Civil Defence Guidance

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what civil defence guidance has been issued to schools since 11 September;
	(2)  what plans he has to issue updated civil defence guidance to parents of school age children.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 15 October 2001
	I have been asked to reply.
	Existing Government guidance to local authorities and others on civil defence continues to apply. My Department will shortly issue further guidance for local education authorities to disseminate to schools and others on a range of issues resulting from the terrorist attacks in the USA and subsequent events.

Overseas Domestic Workers

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will change the arrangements for overseas domestic workers who accompany their employers to the United Kingdom.

Angela Eagle: There is a longstanding concession, outside the Immigration Rules, enabling overseas employers coming to the United Kingdom to bring their domestic workers with them, if they need to do so.
	Changes to the conditions under which overseas domestic workers could be admitted to the United Kingdom were laid before the House on 23 July 1998. The primary objective of those changes was to deal with concerns about reports of abuse suffered by such workers. Responding to those concerns, while minimising scope for immigration abuse, presented a difficult balance. We therefore undertook at the time to review the changes in the light of operational experience.
	Following this review, a number of changes are being made with effect from today, which we shall include in the Immigration Rules at a suitable opportunity.
	In response to concerns raised by the employers of domestic workers, the level of duties needing to be performed by the worker will no longer have to exceed those set down in the International Labour Organisation's International Standard Classification of Occupations.
	We remain concerned at reports of abuse of domestic workers accompanying their employers to the United Kingdom and have discussed with Kalayaan, the organisation that represents overseas domestic workers, how this can be prevented. We have decided to continue allowing domestic workers to change employer but will be asking any that do so to inform the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in writing, outlining their reasons for doing so, at the earliest opportunity. This will enable officials to monitor any possible abuse of the concession by either individuals or employers and, if detected, liaise with other departments to ascertain whether any action could be taken.
	We are also clarifying what is meant in the concession by the meaning of 'household'. Some United Kingdom- based employers have long argued that, although they reside here, they maintain a household abroad and therefore domestic workers currently working in their overseas residence should qualify under this concession. We will make clear that a domestic worker wishing to come to the United Kingdom is expected to have been carrying out domestic duties under the same roof as their employer for 12 months before applying for entry clearance, or in a household that the employer uses for himself on a regular basis and where there is clear evidence of a connection between employer and employee. The domestic worker will also be expected to travel to the United Kingdom with their employer, their employer's spouse or minor child.
	This definition should make it clear that the concession is not intended to allow employers who are resident here to recruit domestic workers from overseas. It will also benefit those employers who regularly divide their time between two houses.

Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the levels of repeat offending among drug misusing offenders in each year since 1997.

John Denham: The New English and Welsh Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (NEW-ADAM) research programme provides estimates of repeat offending drug misusing offenders for the purpose of tracking the drugs strategy. Repeat offending drug misusing offenders are defined as the proportion of arrestees that are using heroin and/or cocaine/crack at least once a week and who have offended at least twice a month in the last 12 months. As yet estimates are available only for the financial year 1999–2000. The proportion of arrestees falling within the definition of repeat offending drug misusing offenders category is 15 per cent. Please note that this only represents the interim baseline result. A summary of the full baseline data will be available in due course.

Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent of access to drugs among five to 16-year-olds in each year since 1997.

John Denham: The survey of smoking, drinking and drug use among school children aged 11 to 15 years includes a question on whether children have been offered drugs.
	Information on the proportion of 11 to 15-year-olds in England who were offered drugs is presented in the table. Information regarding younger children is not available centrally.
	The data requested are available only for the years 1998–2000.
	
		Percentage of 11 to 15 year olds in England who have been offered drugs
		
			 Year Percentage 
		
		
			 1998 34 
			 1999 35 
			 2000 35 
		
	
	Bases: 1998 = 4,751; 1999 = 8,795; 2000 = 7,089
	Sources
	Goddard, E. and Higgins, V. (1999) "Drug use, smoking and drinking among young teenagers in 1998".
	London: The Stationery Office.
	Goddard, E. and Higgins, V. (2000) "Drug use, smoking and drinking among young teenagers in 1999".
	London: The Stationery Office.
	Department of Health Statistical Press Notice July 2001. "Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2000".

Prison Service

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the percentage of the Prison Service estate which will be privately managed by 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 19 July 2001
	The estimated percentage is 8 per cent.; this represents 11 prisons out of a total of 138.

Asylum Seekers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the voucher support system for asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: We received many representations regarding the voucher support system and will make an announcement in due course.

Mother and Baby Units

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many women have applied for admission to a prison mother and baby unit on reception to prison;
	(2)  how many women have been refused admission to a prison mother and baby unit in the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not held centrally. However, computer systems have recently been installed in each of the four mother and baby units and will record that type of information and transmit it to a central point. The staff concerned are being trained in its use and some inputting of new cases has begun.

Fire Safety (Prisons)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on fire safety in prisons.

Beverley Hughes: Fire safety in prisons is the responsibility of the individual prison governor. Prison governors are provided with guidance on the measures to be taken regarding fire safety in the form of written advice contained in the Prison Service publication "Fire Standards in Prison Establishments", copies of which are in the Library. Further advice is provided by fire safety qualified staff of the Prison Service Fire Safety Section.
	Prison premises are exempt from the requirement to have a fire certificate under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 but are subject to the requirements of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 as amended 1999. In state prisons these regulations are enforced by officers of The Crown Premises Inspection Group of Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate. In private prisons the regulations are enforced by the local fire authority.
	Information relating to Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Executive and information relating to Northern Ireland a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Al Muhijiroon

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what action he proposes to take concerning recent statements issued by Al Muhijiroon members (a) Shah Jalal Hussain, (b) Omar Brooks, (c) Abu Yahya and (d) Zahir Khan;
	(2)  if he will investigate the links between Abu Hamza and the Aden Abyan Islamic Army; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will make a statement concerning the activities of the Takfir wal-Hijra organisation at the North London Central Mosque; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will investigate the links between Abu Hamza and Rachid Ramda, awaiting extradition to France since 1995; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  if he will investigate the links between Sakina Security Services Ltd., Al Muhijiroon and Supporters of Sharia; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  if he will investigate the nature of training courses offered at North London Central Mosque, Finsbury Park; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  if he will make a statement concerning the activities of Yasser-Al-Siri;
	(8)  if he will make a statement on the activities of Supporters of Sharia since 11 September;
	(9)  if he will investigate whether Al Muhijiroon members have acted in contravention of the proscription of Hamas, Hezbollah or Islamic Jihad; and if he will make a statement;
	(10)  if he will investigate the links between Al Muhijiroon and Hamas and Hezbollah; and if he will make a statement;
	(11)  if he will make a statement concerning the statements issued by and actions of Abu Hamza since 11 September;
	(12)  if he will make a statement on investigations into the activities of Al Muhijiroon;
	(13)  what assessment he has made of recent statements issued on behalf of Sakina Security Services Ltd.; and if he will make a statement;
	(14)  what action he proposes to take concerning the fatwa issued by Omar Bakri Mohammed against the President of Pakistan; and if he will make a statement;
	(15)  if he will investigate the links between Abu Hamza and Ahmed Begal, recently arrested in Dubai; and if he will make a statement;
	(16)  if he will make a statement about the activities of Al Muhijiroon since 11 September;
	(17)  if he will investigate the activities of Muhammed Jamed with reference to Sakina Security and Al Muhijiroon; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: I have been in close touch with the relevant policing and anti-terrorist units, and with the Attorney-General, in tracking the work undertaken in surveilling, monitoring and evaluating evidence which might be used in any prosecution. As my hon. Friend knows, the detailed operational functions lie with the police and intelligence services, and decisions on prosecutions with the Crown Prosecution Service. We have made it clear that those who step over the line will be prosecuted.

Islamic Fundamentalism (Recruitment)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what action he proposes to take to restrict the activities of those involved in recruiting British citizens for paramilitary training (a) in the UK and (b) overseas on behalf of Islamic fundamentalist organisations; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the activities of Al Muhijiroon and Supporters of Sharia in recruiting for training which is linked to terrorism;
	(3)  what action he plans to take concerning the statement by Omar Bakri Mohammed of 30 May 2000 in al Sharq al Awsat, on British passport holders being sent on Al Muhijiroon guerrilla training courses in the USA;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the number of British citizens who (a) have recently undergone and (b) are undergoing (i) military and (ii) paramilitary training overseas, organised by Islamic fundamentalist groups; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  if he will make a statement concerning the activities of Abu Yahya in respect of recruitment for military training camps in Kashmir.

David Blunkett: I am aware of the allegations relating to the training of United Kingdom nationals overseas. Under Section 54 (1) and (2) of the Terrorism Act 2000, it is an offence to provide instruction or training or to receive instruction or training in the making or use of firearms, explosives, or chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. In addition, under subsection (3) (b) a person commits an offence if he invites another to receive instruction or training and the receipt would constitute an offence under subsection (2) but for the fact that it is to take place outside the United Kingdom. Any concrete and verifiable evidence of such activities will be dealt with immediately, and the police and intelligence services are fully aware of this.

Terrorism Act

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will assess the evidence for proscribing Supporters of Sharia under the Terrorism Act 2000; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will assess the evidence with a view to proscribing Al Muhijiroon under the Terrorism Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: Schedule 2 of the Terrorism Act 2000 applies only to those terrorist organisations which are 'concerned in terrorism' as defined under Section 3 of the Act. Decisions to proscribe and deproscribe are and will continue to be taken only after the most careful consideration and on the basis of the best possible security and other appropriate advice. Any evidence which my hon. Friend feels would be of assistance in aiding the process should be supplied to my Department immediately.

Sakina Security Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the US authorities concerning Sakina Security Services; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: None. However, the police, who are responsible for the investigation of any alleged illegal activity, have been meeting regularly with their United States counterparts to discuss a range of issues including those companies or organisations where concerns have been raised.

Refugees

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees have sought to enter the UK from (a) Iran, (b) Iraq and (c) Afghanistan since January; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: It is not possible to provide information on how many refugees have sought to enter the United Kingdom in any given period, because some refugees arrive clandestinely and subsequently claim asylum in- country rather than claiming on arrival at United Kingdom ports, and because not all attempts to enter the United Kingdom are successful. Information on the numbers of applications for asylum to the United Kingdom in 2001 from nationals of Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan is provided in the table.
	
		Applications for asylum to the UK from nationals of Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, by location where made, -- January-July 2001
		
			  Port In-country Total 
		
		
			 Afghanistan
			 January 185 325 510 
			 February 310 305 615 
			 March 470 210 680 
			 April 500 200 700 
			 May 560 335 900 
			 June 655 255 910 
			 July 550 260 810 
			  
			 Total 3,230 1,890 5,120 
			 Iran
			 January 155 430 585 
			 February 105 255 355 
			 March 110 180 295 
			 April 100 195 295 
			 May 70 135 205 
			 June 65 130 200 
			 July 105 135 245 
			  
			 Total 715 1,460 2,175 
			 Iraq
			 January 185 570 755 
			 February 230 475 710 
			 March 215 215 425 
			 April 155 140 295 
			 May 175 160 340 
			 June 205 240 440 
			 July 340 240 580 
			  
			 Total 1,500 2,045 3,545 
		
	
	Note:
	All data are provisional, exclude dependants, and are rounded to nearest 5.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Departmental Properties

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the total annual running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by his Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per sq m for properties used by his Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK.

Denis MacShane: Within the UK, the FCO currently occupies, or partly occupies, seven properties, all located in England. The total internal letting area for these is 90,000 sq m. Total running costs (including the capital charge) in 2000–01 were £22.4 million. Average cost per sq m was £249.

Overseas British Prisoners

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those British citizens held in foreign jails for which consular support has been requested, by (a) name, (b) country of imprisonment and (c) date of imprisonment.

Ben Bradshaw: As of 1 October we were aware of 3,605 British nationals in prison overseas. Around 40 per cent. of these prisoners were convicted on drugs related offences.
	The 3,605 prisoners are serving their sentences in 126 different countries. The 10 countries with the most British nationals serving sentences are:
	USA: 674
	Spain: 421
	France: 382
	Germany: 220
	Australia: 152
	Thailand: 31
	Jamaica: 129
	Belgium: 113
	Ireland: 140
	Venezuela: 35.
	To list the British citizens and offences for which each prisoner was convicted would incur disproportionate costs and breach consular confidentiality.
	The welfare of British nationals in prison overseas is one of our key concerns. Although we cannot get prisoners released, we do whatever we can to ensure their human rights are protected. We work closely with NGOs and human rights organisations to ensure that their rights are respected.

HEALTH

Correspondence

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for South-West Surrey concerning variations in levels of revenue funding for hospices.

John Hutton: A reply to the right hon. Member was sent on 10 October.

Beta Interferon

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what negotiations he plans to have with drug companies on the cost of beta interferon.

John Hutton: holding answer 15 October 2001
	We have met three companies in the light of the points made in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's provisional appraisal determination and are planning further discussions.

Waiting Lists

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been waiting 
	(1)  over six months for an appointment in hospitals within Lancashire;
	(2)  over 12 months for an operation in hospitals within the north-west.

John Hutton: At the end of August 2001, 1,076 patients had been waiting more than 26 weeks for an out-patient appointment after being referred by a general practitioner to a hospital trust in Lancashire. This represents a 41.3 per cent. reduction compared with August 2000. Plans are in place to eliminate all over 26-week waits by the end of March 2002.
	The number of patients waiting more than 12 months for in-patient or day case treatment in the north-west, at the end of August, was 6,369. This is 20 per cent. fewer than the previous August figure.

Overseas Treatment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what information or guidance he has issued during the past two months to NHS trust chairmen on (a) the purchasing of health care from other EU countries and (b) employing staff from other EU countries on short-term contracts;
	(2)  what contracts (a) his Department and (b) NHS (i) trusts and (ii) agencies have signed during the past month with an EU-based supplier of health care offering to treat British patients abroad, giving details in each case;
	(3)  what negotiations he has had during the past two months with suppliers of health care in other EU countries offering to treat patients abroad.

Alan Milburn: holding answer 15 October 2001
	On 12 July the European Court of Justice ruled on joined cases C-157/99 Geraets-Smits and Peerbooms and case C-368/98 Vanbraekel that some hospital services may fall within EC single market rules if they are provided for remuneration.
	Following this ruling, the Government announced that National Health Service commissioners will be able to commission care for NHS patients from providers in other member states of the European Union, as part of their wider efforts to reduce waiting times.
	NHS chief executives were alerted to the announcement on 30 August through the Chief Executive's Bulletin issued by the Department of Health.
	I have not had any negotiations with suppliers of health care in other EU countries offering to treat NHS patients. Officials in the Department have met several organisations which provide or arrange treatment in other member states of the European Union.
	The decision to treat NHS patients in mainland Europe will be made locally as part of normal NHS commissioning arrangements. The Department has not signed any contracts and is not aware of any contracts that have been signed by primary care trusts or health authorities. The Department is working closely with NHS managers and clinicians in Portsmouth, East Kent, West Sussex and East Surrey to offer patients the option of going to other European countries for procedures. Lessons learned from these areas on the legal, clinical and quality issues involved in sending NHS patients abroad for treatment will inform guidance, which will be sent out to the service later this year.
	The recruitment of staff from the EU is an important part of the Department's recruitment and retention strategy and we are currently undertaking a range of initiatives, including the recruitment of doctors and nurses from Spain and doctors through our global recruitment campaign. A Code of Practice on International Recruitment was launched on 12 October which sets out for the NHS guidelines on the ethical and effective recruitment of staff from abroad.

Radiotherapy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital trusts in England have received new radiotherapy equipment in the last two years paid for predominantly out of public funds.

John Hutton: holding answer 15 October 2001
	Investment through the New Opportunities Fund and the NHS Plan will provide public funds for 102 linear accelerators for treating cancer. In the last two years 30 linear accelerators have been delivered to 20 National Health Service trusts and are expected to be treating patients by the end of the year.
	In addition as part of the planned investment announced in this period, public funding has been allocated for radiotherapy treatment planning computers and simulation equipment to support these. By 2004 all of this radiotherapy equipment will be in place. In total we expect 41 of the 48 hospitals delivering radiotherapy in England to have received equipment through central funding.

Radiotherapy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investment has taken place in radiotherapy equipment in the NHS in each of the last four years; and what percentage of this was funded from NHS rather than voluntary sector sources.

John Hutton: holding answer 15 October 2001
	Investment in radiotherapy equipment by the National Health Service in the last four years will have come from a number of sources and will not always have been made through central purchasing channels. Radiotherapy equipment may include linear accelerators, remote afterloading equipment, superficial treatment machines, and treatment planning computers and simulation equipment. Provision has been through traditional capital purchasing and through leasing arrangements.
	New Opportunities Fund funding of £44 million has been allocated to radiotherapy equipment over this period and further funding will be made available centrally for linear accelerators, simulation equipment and treatment planning computers, as announced in the NHS Plan.

Combined Heat and Power

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many combined heat and power projects have been installed in NHS properties since 1997.

John Hutton: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The Department supports the Government's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as detailed in the current climate change programme, and in the Government's target for 10,000 megawatts of electricity (Mwe) installed combined heat and power (CHP) by the year 2010. Installing CHP in National Health Service premises is an effective means of achieving the energy/carbon efficiencies required as part of this agenda for action.
	Since 1990 the NHS has been working towards energy efficiency savings and successfully achieved the Government's previous target of a 20 per cent. reduction in energy use from 1990 to 2000. The new target is a 15 per cent. energy, 0.15 million tonnes carbon efficiency saving from a base year of March 2000 to March 2010. Ways of meeting this target will continue to include the introduction, where appropriate, of CHP plant.

Heart Transplants

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of the Royal College of Surgeons' report into the effectiveness of heart transplant procedures in the Library.

John Hutton: A copy of the Royal College of Surgeons of England's report entitled "The Report of the Working Party to Review Organ Transplantation", published in January 1999, will be placed in the Library.

Health Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figure he uses as the EU average expenditure on health to form the basis of his target of meeting this figure in the UK; and by when he expects to achieve that target.

John Hutton: We aim to increase health expenditure in the United Kingdom up to the average of the countries of the European Union, which is around 8 per cent. of gross domestic product. By the end of the present spending review period (2003–04), we expect that total United Kingdom expenditure on health will have reached 7.7 per cent. of gross domestic product. Public sector spending beyond this period will be decided in future spending reviews.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Waste Plans

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the inspector appointed by the Government to oversee the consultation exercise during the drawing up of the recent Essex waste plan forbade Essex county council from specifically excluding incinerators from the plan.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 19 July 2001
	I have been asked to reply.
	The inspector did not forbid Essex county council from specifically excluding incinerators from the plan. The deposit draft plan itself, which was before the inspector at the inquiry, did not exclude incinerators. It set out a policy, W7K, which provided criteria for considering planning applications for incinerators, and at policy W8A it identified sites for major waste management facilities, which explicitly might include incinerators. In response to objections, the inspector recommended retention of these policies subject to modifications.
	In a schedule of proposed changes put to the inquiry by the county council, it was proposed to delete policy W7K. But this did not amount to excluding incinerators from the plan, as the relevant criteria were proposed to be transferred, with amendments, to policy W8A. The inspector recommended against such a change for reasons set out in his report, principally that it confused the criteria to be applied to proposed incinerators with those to be applied to major waste management sites, which might not necessarily be developed for incinerators.
	It would not in any case have been possible for the Inspector to have forbidden the county council for excluding incinerators. His role was to make recommendations to the county as to how they should respond to the objections made. It remained for the county council to decide whether or not to accept those recommendations.
	The reasons why the Inspector did not recommend the council to exclude incinerators from the plan as some objectors would have wished are set out in his report, especially paras 27.11–27.14 and 27.36–27.39. To get the full picture these paragraphs should be read in the context of other parts of the report, especially the remainder of part 27 and parts 5 and 34. In summary the main reasons are:
	Whatever the plan says, it cannot prevent planning applications for incinerators in Essex from being submitted. It is appropriate therefore that the plan should set out how the county council would respond to such applications. The deposit draft plan proposed to deal with this by stating criteria against which planning applications would be considered, as well as identifying sites for waste management facilities in general. The inspector supported this basic approach.
	It would in theory have been possible for the plan to state a presumption against any incinerators being permitted. But this would have to be justified by land use planning considerations and take account of advice about the relationship between planning and pollution control (report para 5.12). National policy in "Waste Strategy 2000" provides for a continuing role for energy from waste, including incinerators, as part of the waste hierarchy. There was no such presumption in the deposit draft plan and the Inspector supported the county council on this.
	Attention is drawn to the modified versions of policies W7K and W8A which were recommended by the Inspector (report paras 27.49, last bullet, and 34.49, last bullet). The criteria recommended they address objectors' concerns about incineration and for these to be taken into account if planning applications for incinerators are submitted.
	The paragraphs of the Inspector's report are as follows:
	Extracts from Essex local plan report
	5.12 For example, at the inquiry there was more than once quoted to me the parliamentary answer given to Mr. Bob Russell, MP, that "A Way With Waste" creates no obligation to include incineration within waste development plans (doc 2588/PE/1, appendix 5) (and no doubt a similar point could be made with regard to "Waste Strategy 2000"). However I think that is not the point. Nobody can prevent planning applications being submitted for incinerators, and if the plan said nothing about them then it would not provide useful guidance. It would perhaps be entitled to state a presumption against incinerators being permitted, but if it did so this would have to be justified by land use planning considerations, and take account of advice about the relationship between planning and pollution control. I say more about that in part 27. The point here is that the plan should not, in my view, dictate to the WDAs and WCAs what their strategy should be, although it can constrain that strategy within land use planning principles.
	Should there be a policy on incineration?
	27.11 The first issue arises because in schedule 8 the WPAs propose to delete policy W7K and incorporate policy guidance on incineration into policy W8A. The consortium's objection is withdrawn subject to this. This change might be thought to delight many others who do not want to see any policy on incineration in the plan and who quoted in support of their case the parliamentary reply to Bob Russell MP that there is no obligation to include incineration in the plan (see para 5.12). But it seems to me that having no policy on the matter will not necessarily meet objectors' cases.
	27.12 There is no doubt that waste incineration is an issue in Essex and Southend. Private companies are interested in building incinerators, as evidenced by the three successful bids in the latest round of NFFO contracts (doc 2588/PE/1, appendix 3). They may decide to submit planning applications, and if the waste local plan provided no guidance as to how such applications would be dealt with, the resulting uncertainty would not be in anyone's interest. As regards household waste, the WDAs, having agreed interim contract strategies up to 2007, are in the process of deciding their strategy for post-2007. Through "Working Together", they have agreed with the WCAs a minimum recycling/composting target of 60 per cent. by 2007, but as I understand it they have not reached any decision to eliminate energy from waste incineration from their strategy. Paragraph 29 of PPG10 advises that waste local plans should ensure an adequate planning framework for the provision of facilities by the waste management industry, and should carefully consider the environmental implications of all waste management proposals. For these reasons it would not be a reasonable option for the plan to ignore incineration.
	27.13 I accept that the proposed changes to policy W8A would still refer to incineration. But I do not consider that it would provide proper guidance. Firstly, this policy applies to the waste management sites identified in schedule 1. Planning applications for incinerators might be submitted on other sites, and there would be no policy basis in the plan for determining such applications. Secondly, the additions to policy W8A on incineration have no justification in the supporting text in chapter 8, and indeed, as objectors to this proposed change point out, include new matter on incineration being a last resort which is not justified anywhere in the plan. Thirdly, the supporting text to policy W7K is not proposed for deletion or amendment, yet if the policy were deleted this text would be left hanging in the air. Fourthly, all the other significant waste management processes, including landfill, have explicit policies applying to them. Simply to remove the incineration policy and include amended parts of it in policy W8A is not therefore in my view an appropriate response to the objections.
	27.14 For these reasons I shall not recommend the deletion of policy W7K. In line with the scheme of chapter 7 of the plan for other waste processes, there should be a policy which provides clear guidance for responding to planning applications for incinerators. It is next necessary to consider the content of the policy. To address this, I shall examine in turn the matters included under the second issue listed above.
	Should the policy state a presumption against incinerators? If not, what constraints should be applied?
	27.36 It will be evident from my conclusions on the above issues that I do not consider that the plan should rule out incineration as a matter of principle. I also see no justification for introducing the phrase "as a last resort" proposed in schedule 8. It is not clear what this means: the question of practicable alternatives further up the waste hierarchy would be taken into account anyway under policy W3A. However clear guidance should be provided in policy W7K as to the matters that would be taken into account by the WPAs in dealing with any planning application.
	27.37 The definition of these matters follows from the foregoing discussion. Where requirements are common to other forms of waste management, they should be stated in policies W8A and W8B. They would then apply to incineration also, as would be made clear by inserting a cross-reference to those policies in policy W7K. The purpose of policy W7K is to introduce additional requirements specific to incineration, namely consideration of emissions to air or water (see para 27.22) and disposal of residues (see para 27.34). A further matter that I think is best expressed as a requirement is that incineration without energy recovery will not be permitted; but in response to objection from GOER this should be worded to enable an exception to be made in specialised cases. That would conform to para 7.37 of the supporting text, incorporating the modification recommended, which explains the meaning of that term.
	27.38 Policy W8B contains criteria for major waste development outside the locations identified in schedule 1. Provided an incinerator proposal met those requirements, I see no justification for precluding it solely on the grounds that it was not on an identified site. It might for example be a smaller scale project, or the location might be a suitable one even though it has not been foreseen in drafting the plan. This is the more so because later in this report I have recommended the deletion of some of the identified sites, and shown that there would be difficulties in accommodating a conventional incinerator at some of the others. It would impose an unfair burden on the remaining sites if the plan did not allow flexibility for alternative locations to come forward. My recommended wording therefore includes a reference to other locations subject to policy W8B, and I consider in part 35 how that policy should be worded. This would meet Mid Essex Gravel's objection. It is perhaps unlikely that an incinerator below 50,000 tpa capacity, to which policy W4B would apply, would be proposed, but to allow for future developments this possibility could be mentioned in supporting text.
	27.39 Lastly I pick up some of the other matters raised by objectors. The limited energy efficiency of a conventional incinerator, unless it includes a combined heat and power plant, is a factor that would be taken into account in assessing whether a proposed incinerator was the BPEO, under policy W3A. This factor might be improved by technical innovations. The life of an incinerator would be taken into account at planning application stage, and also, no doubt, by the WDAs when considering waste contracts. The University of Essex and others refer to new quasi-incineration techniques such as pyrolysis or gasification: there is nothing in the plan to preclude these, and insofar as they overcame the problems of conventional incinerators they would to that extent be favoured under the policy. The problems raised by Harlow council are all matters that would be addressed at the application stage under various policies of the plan; the issue of EIA has been covered at part 9. The matters raised by waste industry companies, and also those raised by GOER and the Environment Agency, have already been dealt with.
	Policy W7K: delete text and substitute as follows:
	Proposals for incineration of waste will be permitted at the locations identified in schedule 1 (subject to compliance with the requirements of policy W8A) or at other locations (subject to the requirements of policy W8B), provided the following requirements are also met:
	incineration without energy recovery will not be permitted except in specialised cases;
	emissions to air and water from the process will not materially endanger human health or harm the environment. In deciding whether this requirement is met, the WPAs will assume that the necessary controls are exercised under Environmental Protection legislation and that the pollution control regime operates effectively, and will take into account whether the process proposed is the Best Practicable Environmental Option for the particular waste stream; and
	provision is made for the recycling or other management of all residues, including the means of disposal to landfill where that is the BPEO.
	Policy W8A: delete text and substitute as follows:
	Waste management facilities will be permitted at the locations shown in schedule 1 provided all of the following criteria, where relevant, are complied with:
	there is a need for the facility to manage waste arising in Essex and Southend (subject to policy W3C);
	the proposal represents the Best Practicable Environmental Option for the particular waste stream, having regard to any alternative options further up the waste hierarchy;
	the development complies with other relevant policies of this plan, including the policy/ies in chapter 7 for the type(s) of facility proposed;
	adequate road access is provided in accordance with policy W4E. Access by rail or water will be supported if practicable;
	buildings and structures are of a high standard of design, with landscaping and screening provided as necessary; and
	integrated schemes for recycling, composting, materials recovery and energy recovery from waste will be supported where this is shown to provide benefits in the management of waste which would not otherwise be obtained.

Waste Plans

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers inspectors appointed to oversee the drawing up of county waste plans have to overrule decisions of the councils concerned.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 19 July 2001
	I have been asked to reply.
	The role of a Local Plan Inspector is prescribed in the Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) (England) Regulations 1999 and set out more informally in the Green Book, "Local Plans and Unitary Development Plans: A Guide to Procedures". Essentially it is to hold the inquiry and report to the council with recommendations as to the action they should take with respect to each of the objections. The council must decide whether or not to accept the Inspector's recommendations. They may decide not to do so but must give their reasons for this. The council will normally propose modifications to the Plan in accordance with their decisions on the Inspector's recommendations, prior to adopting the Plan.

Rural Payments Agency

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has set for the Rural Payments Agency for 2001–02.

Margaret Beckett: I have set the Rural Payments Agency the following performance targets for 2001–02.
	Issues and Aims
	Operational Service Performance
	To process at least 98.5 per cent. of valid claims correctly and in doing so:
	To process at least 96.14 per cent. of IACS claims by value within the EU deadline.
	To process at least 98 per cent. of CAP claims within ministerial deadlines and all claims within the set EU Commission deadlines or in their absence 60 days.
	To carry out 100 per cent. on-the-spot inspections for CAP schemes in accordance with EU targets, subject to agreed derogations.
	To meet all targets set for customer service.
	Financial and control performance
	To operate within the resource and cash allocations in RPA's Request for Resources (RfR), as agreed with DEFRA.
	To agree and implement a comprehensive RPA Risk Management Plan by 31 March 2002.
	To implement procedures for the production of a statement of internal controls as part of the audited annual report and accounts for 2001–02.
	To obtain full paying Agency accreditation from the Competent Authority from 16 October 2001.
	To ensure that disallowance within the control of RPA remains below 0.5 per cent. of the value of CAP payments made by the Agency.
	Fair, responsive quality services performance
	To develop and operate a procedure for handling complaints that will be transparent and efficient and compliant with best practice as identified by the Cabinet Office. RPA will also participate in any mechanism that is operated by the Department and the Devolved Administrations that provides an opportunity for independent evaluation of an appeal.
	To develop the use of the Industry Forum set up in August 2001 and by 31 March 2002, to establish additional further specialist sub-groups in support to enable close and effective communication with, and involvement of all RPA customers.
	To develop and implement a RPA Quality Strategy by 31 March 2002.
	Efficiency performance
	RPA Change Programme to deliver change programmes as identified in programme plan and in the Corporate Plan for 2001–02.
	To deliver key milestones of the RPA change programme, as agreed with the Regional Overview Board.
	To maintain/ensure business continuity and customer satisfaction during the RPA change programme.
	Policy advice
	To meet the needs of policy divisions in providing operational advice in support of CAP policy formation.
	Valuing staff
	To implement an action plan to remain accredited following the IiP review in February 2002 and the plan for the culture change programme.
	To continue the roll out of Diversity workshops with the intention to achieve 80 per cent. coverage of all management staff by 31 March 2002.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long foot and mouth disease can remain active in the digestive tract and faeces of (a) carrion crows and (b) foxes.

Elliot Morley: These species are not susceptible to infection by the foot and mouth disease virus. If they ingest the virus there is no true infection or colonisation of the digestive tract. If the virus is ingested, any remaining virus particles, which have survived the activities of digestion, will only persist in the gut for a day or two and will be excreted naturally. However, crows and foxes are not capable of excreting sufficient virus to infect one of the farm species.

Foot and Mouth

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on the handling by her Department of the foot and mouth outbreak.

Elliot Morley: The Department has received representations from an extremely wide range of interested parties on all aspects of the foot and mouth outbreak. Since the start of the outbreak, we have regularly consulted a wide range of stakeholders and worked closely with them in the development of our disease control policies.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward specific proposals to assist the local parish council surrounding the Great Orton disposal site.

Elliot Morley: The Department has engaged consultants to prepare detailed restoration and aftercare proposals for the site. The final form of the proposal is nearing completion and in the very near future a copy of the formal proposals will be submitted for approval by the Cumbria county council. Part of this process will involve the county council consulting a number of statutory agencies, the local council and the local parish council for their views.

Foot and Mouth

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reasons were for the decision to scrap the EpiMan data management and prediction system for controlling a major foot and mouth epidemic.

Elliot Morley: The EpiMan data management and prediction system was not scrapped. The modelling component (Interspread) for evaluating control measures and predicting the future course of the epidemic has been used extensively and almost on a daily basis. One scientific paper has been published describing its use during the early stages of the epidemic. The data management component was not used in full as it was designed to administer all tracings associated with Infected Premises and other control activities from a central disease control centre. The widespread geographical distribution of infection did not lend itself to such a central administration. Staff in DEFRA built on their experiences from dealing with the outbreak of classical swine fever and produced a generic disease control database, which has proved to be of great benefit.

Foot and Mouth

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cost to the economy is of the foot and mouth disease outbreak to date.

Elliot Morley: I am very much aware that the outbreak is having a considerable impact on farming and a range of industries throughout the UK. However, it is not possible, at this stage, to make a reliable estimate of the longer-term economic consequences. Work is in hand to complete a national assessment, the details of which will be made publicly available.

Foot and Mouth

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what is the total amount of compensation so far paid to farmers following the foot and mouth outbreak.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The total amount paid in statutory compensation in Great Britain as at 10 October is £1,047,102,708. This comprises £1,020,769,169 for animal compensation payments and £26,333,152 for items seized and destroyed such as hay, feed, fodder and semen straws.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements she has made to encourage (a) individuals, (b) companies and (c) organisations affected by foot and mouth disease to submit evidence to the inquiries the Government have established; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The inquiries which the Government have announced into the current foot and mouth disease epidemic are independent. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for DEFRA to decide how to encourage any person, company or organisation to submit evidence. It is for the chairmen of the independent inquiries to encourage interested parties to submit their views.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements she has made for the Government inquiries into foot and mouth disease to receive representations from hon. Members; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The inquiries into the current foot and mouth disease epidemic are independent. It is for the Chairmen to decide on how to receive any representations.

Foot and Mouth

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution her Department is making to the research being undertaken to develop a vaccine against foot and mouth disease, which does not result in a carrier state.

Elliot Morley: As yet no vaccine is available that can provide a guarantee of preventing the carrier state. The Department is funding a programme of research on foot and mouth disease, concentrating on (i) vaccine development (ii) molecular structure of the virus (iii) improved diagnosis and (iv) epidemiology. During the current financial year, we are committed to spend just over £900,000 on this programme, of which £268,000 will be devoted to three projects on vaccine development. In addition, one project from the 'improved diagnosis' programme is specifically examining the carrier state in cattle. The Department has also received six proposals for future research and development into vaccine development and use.

Foot and Mouth

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects that Somerset will be adjudged not to have high risk status in respect of foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 July 2001
	The county of Somerset was classified as foot and mouth disease free from 9 October, while the single unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset was declared foot and mouth disease free on 11 September. The unitary authority of North Somerset was classified as foot and mouth disease free on 16 October 2001.

Combined Heat and Power

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much CHP capacity has been put out of service since the new electricity trading arrangements came into effect.

Michael Meacher: No information is available on whether any CHP capacity has been decommissioned since the introduction of NETA. However, the recent report by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, "Report to DTI on the Review of the Initial Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators", issued last month, indicates that the export of power from CHP has reduced by around 60 per cent.

Energy Efficiency (Government Estate)

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to legislate for a 30 per cent. improvement in the energy efficiency of the Government Estate.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 July 2001
	Further to the current 20 per cent. improvement target, we are developing new realistic, but challenging energy efficiency targets for the Government estate. These will be based on an assessment of the estate's performance against national standards, which will be available next year.
	We are currently analysing the latest information about the estate's energy efficiency performance over the past decade, details of which will be announced next month.

Livestock Markets

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the resumption of operation of livestock markets.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 October 2001
	Veterinary and scientific advice is that there is an inherent risk of spreading the disease by mixing animals together and then dispersing them. Any livestock keeper with poor standards of biosecurity might attend markets from anywhere in the country and put at risk others attending the market. Even in designated free counties, it would take only one such lapse in biosecurity precautions to spread disease. It is right to be cautious at this stage but the situation will be kept under review.

WALES

Tourism

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly on support for small businesses in the tourism sector in Wales.

Paul Murphy: I regularly meet the First Secretary of the National Assembly to discuss a variety of issues, including the tourism sector in Wales.
	Over the last six months, I have made many visits to different parts of Wales, meeting representatives of local business communities, hoteliers and other organisations to listen to their concerns.

Tourism

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly on financial assistance for small businesses in the tourism sector which have been affected by foot and mouth disease.

Paul Murphy: I have regular meetings with the First Secretary to discuss a variety of issues, including the tourism sector in Wales.
	The Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Islwyn (Mr. Touhig), recently visited my hon. Friend's constituency and met representatives of the local business community, hoteliers and other organisations to listen to their concerns on the effects of FMD on the local economy.

Tourism

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the use of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme for promotion of businesses in tourism.

Paul Murphy: The Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, a UK-wide scheme, is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
	This scheme, which has been running since 1981, helps viable small firms access loans where conventional finance is unavailable because of a lack of security. Under standard scheme terms and conditions many business sectors are eligible including some within tourism.
	The scheme was temporarily extended in April 2001 to assist businesses affected by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Coverage was extended to a number of business sectors normally excluded, including retailing, catering and others within tourism.

Health Service

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on the health service in Wales.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly on the health service in Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly the National Assembly First Minister and the Assembly Health and Social Services Minister to discuss the NHS in Wales.
	As my hon. Friends know the NHS (Wales) Bill received advance- drafting authority and we have therefore been in constant touch in order to make progress.

Transport

Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly on transport in Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend meets the First Secretary of the National Assembly on a regular basis to discuss wide-ranging current issues affecting Wales, including transport.
	Transport generally is a matter for the National Assembly, though railways, air and ports remain, generally, the responsibility of Central Government, working closely with the Assembly on matters affecting Wales. I am keen to continue dialogue with the Assembly and Cabinet colleagues in order to determine how best to meet the transport needs of Wales.

Transport

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly on transport in Wales.

Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary of the National Assembly on a regular basis to discuss wide- ranging current issues affecting Wales, including transport.
	Transport generally is a matter for the National Assembly, though railways, air and ports remain, generally, the responsibility of Central Government, working closely with the Assembly on matters affecting Wales. I am keen to continue dialogue with the Assembly and Cabinet colleagues in order to determine how best to meet the transport needs of Wales.

Manufacturing Industry

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly on manufacturing industry in Wales.

Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues, including manufacturing in Wales.
	I am pleased to note the announcement of some 7,500 jobs in manufacturing operations across Wales in the past 12 months, particularly in the light of heavy job losses in the steel sector.

Manufacturing Industry

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly on manufacturing industry in Wales.

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly on the manufacturing industry in Wales.

Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues, including manufacturing in Wales.
	I am pleased to note the announcement of some 7,500 jobs in manufacturing operations across Wales in the past 12 months.

Manufacturing Industry

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on manufacturing employment in Wales.

Paul Murphy: I am pleased to note the announcement of some 7,500 jobs in manufacturing operations across Wales in the past 12 months.

Higher Education

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills about higher education in Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I have had a number of meetings and discussions recently to discuss education in Wales. These discussions have included the provision of higher education.
	The Assembly's Education and Lifelong Learning Committee is conducting a comprehensive policy review of higher education in Wales, to inform a 10-year strategy for the sector. The review's findings are expected later this year.

Environment

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the mechanisms for determining cross-border environmental issues.

Paul Murphy: Such issues are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales, in discussion with the lead Whitehall Department and where appropriate the Environment Agency. The Wales Office would only become involved if I were asked to intervene to help resolve a difficulty.

North Wales Young Offenders Team

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the North Wales young offenders team; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales has responsibility for the operation of youth offending teams. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requires local authorities to submit a youth justice plan to the Board annually, setting out the composition and funding of youth offending teams and how youth justice services in their areas are to be provided.
	I am informed that the Youth Justice Board is aware of the proposals by Wrexham county borough council and Flintshire county council to split into two the present North East Wales Youth Offending Team. It is for the Board to comment on the merits of these proposals.

Welsh Language (Documents)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements are in place to ensure that documents produced by his Department are obtainable in Welsh.

Paul Murphy: Wales Office publications are bilingual and we reply in Welsh to anyone who writes to us in that language. Our translation needs are met partly by the National Assembly for Wales under the terms of a service level agreement and partly by external translators. We are currently preparing a Welsh Language Scheme which will be published for consultation shortly.

Labour Statistics

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many job losses have been announced, and how many new jobs have been created, in Blaenau Gwent in the past 12 months.

Paul Murphy: While the figures are not exhaustive, a survey of announcements over the past 12 months suggests that around 1,000 jobs have been lost in Blaenau Gwent and just under 300 new jobs have been announced during this period. While these figures are disappointing, I am pleased to note that the unemployment rate in Blaenau Gwent Unitary Authority has fallen by 0.7 per cent. in the last year.

Labour Statistics

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly on manufacturing job losses, with special reference to job losses in the Caerphilly county borough.

Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a wide range of issues including manufacturing employment in Wales.
	While a number of manufacturing job losses have been announced in Caerphilly and across Wales during the past 12 months, I very much welcome the announcement of continued expansion at Norgine Pharmaceuticals and National Britannia, with a total of 144 jobs to be created in Caerphilly.

Inward Investment

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning the level of inward investment in Wales.

Paul Murphy: I meet the First Minister regularly to discuss a wide range of issues including inward investment in Wales.
	In the past 12 months, Wales has attracted capital investment of £549 million, with nearly 9,000 new jobs created and over 6,000 jobs safeguarded.

Foot and Mouth

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales regarding the state of the rural economy following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide range of issues, including the rural economy in Wales.
	The recent declines in rural incomes are attributable to prices for most commodities falling sharply due to market conditions, economic difficulties in Russia and Asia, and the strength of sterling, as well as the foot and mouth outbreak. We cannot ignore these difficulties, but must respond positively to the challenges. I understand that the National Assembly's Advisory Group is advising on how best to tackle these challenges in a way which best meets the needs of rural Wales.

Redundant Steel Workers

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to assist redundant steelworkers in Wales.

Paul Murphy: On 3 May the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced a number of measures to help individuals and communities affected by redundancies in the steel industry. This included lump sum payments of around £2,500 in social aid. The scheme will be backdated to 1 January 2000.

SCOTLAND

Refurbishment Projects

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the top 10 companies to which her Department contracted out its construction and refurbishment work in the last 12 months.

Helen Liddell: My Department has let no contracts for construction and refurbishment work in the last 12 months.

Refurbishment Projects

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by her Department in (i) the current and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project.

Helen Liddell: My Department has no building or refurbishment projects planned for this financial year or next, other than on-going minor maintenance work.

Civil Service (Retirement Age)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the compulsory retirement ages which apply to employees of her Department and of executive agencies and other public sector bodies for which it is responsible, broken down by grade or job title.

Helen Liddell: My Department's normal retirement age for all staff is 60. This policy is currently under review in relation to staff below the senior civil service.
	The Scotland Office has no executive agencies or other public service bodies.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Fraud

Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place the results of the evaluation of the March advertising campaign on targeting fraud in the Library.

Alistair Darling: A report on the results of the evaluation of the March burst of the Targeting Fraud Advertising Campaign has been placed in the Library.

Remploy

Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what Remploy's performance has been against the targets set in their 2000–01 Annual Performance Agreement.

Maria Eagle: Remploy published its Report and Accounts for 2000–01 in July and copies have been placed in the Library. The targets and achievements are set out in the table.
	
		
			  Target Achievement 
		
		
			 The average number of disabled people employed by Remploy (1)10,400 10,423 
			 Average number of disabled people employed under the Interwork Scheme (1)4,400 4,403 
			 The number of disabled employees to move from Remploy factories to Interwork having been employed there for at least six months, or from Interwork or factories to open employment (1)700 774 
			 Remploy will keep within a unit cost target (operating deficit per disabled worker) of: £9,600 £9,580 
		
	
	(1) at least

Invalid Care Allowance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received from carers' organisations regarding an increase in the invalid care allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: We have received from carers' organisations a number of representations on this and other aspects of financial support for carers. Some of these were in response to the Government's recent consultation on our proposed changes to provide entitlement to Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) to those aged over 65, to make the benefit payable for 8 weeks after the death of the person being cared for, and to change its name to the more appropriate "Carer's Allowance". These enhancements to ICA, which are part of a £500 million per annum package of benefit improvements announced last Autumn, will be introduced shortly by means of a Regulatory Reform Order.

PRIME MINISTER

Ynys Môn

Albert Owen: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit the Ynys Môn constituency in the near future.

Tony Blair: I have no plans at present to do so.

Housing Rents (London)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what actions are being taken by the Government to ensure that the number of affordable rented houses in London increases.

Tony Blair: We have reversed the decline in housing investment by the previous Administration with a massive programme to improve the quantity and quality of social housing in London. We are actively working with others, including the Mayor, on measures to increase the provision of housing, including affordable housing, in London. We have also just announced the allocations for our Starter Homes Initiative which will help to expand the supply of housing to key workers in the capital.

NHS Beds (Oxfordshire)

Evan Harris: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of NHS beds in Oxfordshire.

Tony Blair: In August 2001, an assessment made in accordance with the recommendations of the National Beds Inquiry showed that Oxfordshire needed a further 151 beds to reach its recommended number. A more detailed assessment process is now being developed to ensure that the right capacity exists to meet the needs of patients in Oxfordshire. Action is already being taken to address the capacity problem, and current plans include an increase of 48 surgical beds at the John Radcliffe Hospital by spring 2003 and an increase of 18 beds in Bicester by autumn 2004.

Experience Corps

Bob Russell: To ask the Prime Minister which Minister has responsibility for the operation of the Experience Corps.

Tony Blair: The Under-Secretary of State, Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), has responsibility for the Experience Corps.

Devolved Administrations

Alex Salmond: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly Committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) Scottish Parliament, (2) Welsh Assembly, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons Select Committees.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1003–04W.

Public Sector (Retirement)

Frank Field: To ask the Prime Minister what proportion of public sector employees in work are due to retire in the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) can provide estimates of the total number of employees in the public sector due to reach state retirement age in the next five, 10 and 15 years. That is, men aged 60–64, 55–64, and 50–64 and women aged 55–59, 50–59 and 45–59 respectively. Estimates for the number of employees in the public sector for the age breakdowns and their proportions of the total number of employees of working age in the public sector are shown in the table.
	The LFS does not collect information on the retirement intentions of individuals.
	
		Proportion of public sector employees of working age reaching state retirement age in the next five, 10 and 15 years, spring(2),(3) 2001—United Kingdom
		
			  Thousand Percentage 
		
		
			 All persons   
			 Five years 465 7.4 
			 10 years 1,252 20.0 
			 15 years 2,172 34.6 
			
			 Men   
			 Five years 111 4.6 
			 10 years 322 13.4 
			 15 years 648 27.0 
			
			 Women   
			 Five years 355 9.1 
			 10 years 931 24.0 
			 15 years 1,525 39.3 
		
	
	(2) March to May
	(3) Not seasonally adjusted
	Note:
	Percentages are based on the total number of public sector employees in the relevant age group as a percentage of all employees in the public sector
	Source:
	ONS—Labour Force Survey

TREASURY

Split Level Investment Trusts

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps are being taken by the Treasury and the FSA to investigate (a) mis-selling and (b) financial solvency in respect of split level investment trusts;
	(2)  what investigations have been carried out by the Treasury and the FSA into the possible mis-selling of zero coupon preference shares by investment trusts.

Ruth Kelly: I understand from the Financial Services Authority that they have been considering for some time the sale of 'exotic' products, including split capital investment trusts, to retail investors. It issued a Consumer Alert on 9 March 2001, entitled "Be wary of exotic ISAs, warns financial watchdog". In March 2001, it also issued specific guidance to financial advisers, reminding them of their responsibility to ensure that investors are aware of the risks involved in purchasing split capital investment trusts.

Employment Tax Credits

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with carers' organisations as part of the consultation on employment tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: Throughout 2001, I have met a wide range of interested groups and individuals, including representatives from carers' organisations and disability groups, to discuss all aspects of the new tax credits proposals.

Departmental Staff

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate total annual staff costs for his Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1009–12W.

Departmental Spending

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total expenditure was on (a) advertising, (b) polling, (c) focus groups, (d) design consultants, (e) caterers, (f) production of departmental publications and (g) photographs/photographers by his Department for each year since 1995 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; what was (A) the annual percentage increase in spending on each category and (B) spending on each category as a percentage of the total departmental running costs; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1009–12W.

Customs and Excise, Shrewsbury

Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the maximum distance is that employees at Her Majesty's Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury would be expected to travel if alternative work were found for them.

Paul Boateng: Staff could be moved to another office within reasonable daily travel, which is defined as within 90 minutes' travelling time each way from home, taking into account the personal and domestic circumstances of each member of staff.

Customs and Excise, Shrewsbury

Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when the review into workloads will be completed at Her Majesty's Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury;
	(2)  if he will publish the brief given to the regional director undertaking the review into workloads at Her Majesty's Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury.

Paul Boateng: There is no review into workloads at the HM Customs and Excise Shrewsbury office.

Customs and Excise, Shrewsbury

Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proposed reduction in work at HM Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury.

Paul Boateng: HM Customs and Excise are pursuing a number of initiatives to improve their service to business and achieve efficiency improvements. Reductions in personnel at Shrewsbury are related to the programme to concentrate the work of Debt Management Units from 29 sites into 10. As a result HM Customs and Excise announced that the DMU at their Shrewsbury office will close on 31 March 2002, affecting 32 staff.
	However, Customs have no plans to close the Shrewsbury office. Customs are also exploring options with other Government Departments and agencies. Their aim remains to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible.

Customs and Excise, Shrewsbury

Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of redundancies at Her Majesty's Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury if replacement work is not found.

Paul Boateng: HM Customs and Excise's policy is to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible. They are not in a position to estimate whether or not there will be any redundancies at Shrewsbury until all the other options have been exhausted.

Customs and Excise, Shrewsbury

Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to introduce new work at HM Customs and Excise office in Shrewsbury.

Paul Boateng: HM Customs and Excise are undertaking a national review of Regional Business Services work that does not have to be based at a particular location. This may result in that work being pooled or concentrated in particular sites. Shrewsbury will be given equal consideration alongside similar locations as part of that review.

Foot and Mouth

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of Government payments arising from the foot and mouth outbreak in the financial year 2001–02 expressed (a) gross and (b) net of reimbursement from the European Commission; and what the total cost is.

Andrew Smith: The costs of FMD for the full financial year are not yet known and cannot be reliably estimated. Up to 10 October, the Government had spent £1.5 billion on eradicating foot and mouth, of which just over £1 billion has been on compensation to farmers. In addition, £308 million had been spent on the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme, and the Government have put in place several measures to help the countryside recover from foot and mouth disease, including: deferral of tax, VAT and National Insurance contributions which has helped over 18,000 businesses; establishment of a £50 million Business Recovery Fund; establishment of rate relief scheme covering affected areas; establishment of a matched funding scheme for charitable donations; and the Government making additional lending available through the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme.
	The UK is eligible for reimbursement from the European Commission of 60 per cent of the costs of compensation for the slaughter and destruction of animals, cleansing and disinfecting of holdings and equipment and the transport of carcases. The EC have approved an initial payment of euro 355 million, and we anticipate a further payment being made during 2002.

Scottish Executive

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been paid at current prices by HM Treasury to the Scottish Executive outside the block grant since 1 July 1999; and if he will place in the Library a list of all the major items included in that additional expenditure.

Andrew Smith: Nothing—all funding by the Government of the Scottish Executive since 1 July 1999 has been by means of the block grant.

Air Passenger Duty

Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the benefits of using revenues from air passenger duty to assist British airlines during their current financial difficulties.

Paul Boateng: The Government will continue to consider any appropriate means of providing support to the airlines industry during the current period. However, at this time, the Government do not think that hypothecating revenues raised from air passenger duty to the airlines industry would be an appropriate or efficient means of support. In general, the way in which Government revenues are raised should not determine where they are spent.

Equitable Life

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reasons the appointed actuary of Equitable Life has given to the FSA for the change in his assessment of (a) the valuation of the with-profits fund and (b) the company's financial position, that prompted the company to downgrade its terminal bonus guidelines by 16 per cent.

Ruth Kelly: The reduction in policy value was, the Equitable has publicly said,
	"vital for the long-term interests of the Society and all its policyholders. The decision was taken . . . because stock markets have fallen heavily over the last 18 months; maturity values now significantly exceed the value of the investments underlying maturing policies; as a mature fund, a large number of policyholders are currently retiring and taking their benefits."

Equitable Life

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what questions the FSA raised with Equitable Life about the values assigned to policyholders' final bonus levels in its (a) with-profits fund and (b) GAR fund since January 2000;
	(2)  what assessments the FSA made, on what bases and on which dates, of the adequacy of the reserves of Equitable Life to meet the liabilities it faced from its guaranteed annuity rate policies, between 1 January 1999 and 8 December 2000.

Ruth Kelly: This is an issue which Lord Penrose may wish to consider in his inquiry into the events surrounding Equitable Life.

Equitable Life

Russell Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he will provide to Lord Penrose's inquiry into Equitable Life; and if he will publish it.

Ruth Kelly: The Government are submitting to Lord Penrose the report of the Financial Services Authority on the review of the regulation of Equitable Life from January 1999 to December 2000. The report has been presented to Parliament and is being published today (as House of Commons Paper 244). Copies are available in the Vote Office.

Insurance Company Actuaries

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the reporting obligations of appointed actuaries of insurance companies so that all material changes in the financial position of a company must be notified to the Financial Services Authority in between annual reporting dates.

Ruth Kelly: Sections 342 and 343 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 provide HM Treasury with powers to make regulations specifying the circumstances in which appointed actuaries of insurance companies must make a report to the Financial Services Authority. The Treasury intends to make such regulations, but before doing so it wants to give interested parties an opportunity to comment on its proposals. These proposals are set out in a consultation document which will be published by HM Treasury in the near future.

Insurance Companies (Negligence)

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will impose upon the auditors and audit committees of insurance companies a duty of care to the Financial Services Authority qua regulator, making them liable for negligence;
	(2)  if he will impose upon the appointed actuaries of insurance companies a duty of care to the Financial Services Authority qua regulator, making them liable for negligence.

Ruth Kelly: This is an issue which Lord Penrose may wish to consider in his inquiry into the events surrounding Equitable Life.

Airline Insurance

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the forecast average monthly cost of the airline insurance guarantee is.

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the limit of Government contingent liabilities is under (a) Pool Re and (b) the cover provided to the aviation industry to insure against terrorist risk; and how these commitments will be reported in Government accounts.

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made with the airline industry to ensure that passengers travelling out of the UK while airline insurance is underwritten by Her Majesty's Government will be able to return to the UK after the expiry of the current arrangements.

Andrew Smith: holding answer 15 October 2001
	There is no limit to the Government contingent liability under the arrangements with the re-insurer, Pool Re, or the cover provided to the airline industry. Full details of the liabilities will be submitted to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee in accordance with normal procedures.
	The cost of the airline insurance guarantee is mainly in the form of actual liabilities. Costs cannot be quantified in advance of any claim being made.
	The airline insurance guarantee established by HM Treasury will run for 30 days from 11.59 GMT 24 September, and there is an option for renewal on seven days' notice for a further 30-day period if it is evident that adequate insurance is not available.

Treasury Select Committee Report

John McFall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government will respond to the Treasury Committee's Tenth report for the Session 2000–01.

Ruth Kelly: The Government response has been delivered to the Committee today and a copy has been deposited in the Library of the House.